Flexible discharge valve



June 24, 1969 COLEMAN FLEXIBLE DISCHARGE VALVE Sheet 012 Filed April 26. 1966 INVENTOR. Clarence B. Coleman '&

Attorneys BY W I 8min,

Sheet Filed April 26. 1966 INVENTOR.

Clarence 8. Coleman Attorneys United States Patent 3,451,419 FLEXIBLE DISCHARGE VALVE Clarence B. Coleman, Oakland, Calif., assignor to Fabricated Metals, Inc., a corporation of California Filed Apr. 26, 1966, Ser. No. 545,491 Int. Cl. F161 37/00, 37/04; F16k 7/00 US. Cl. 137-322 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A valve for use in containers holding bulk fluid material and having a discharge opening positioned adjacent the bottom of the container, Opposed sheets are joined at opposite edges to define a passageway and an end of the sheets is secured to a collar mounted in sealed relation with the discharge opening. The sheets extend inwardly of the collar into the interior of the container and provide separable opposed faces which are biased into sealing engagement by a pressure head from the material stored in the container to close the passageway. A major length of the faces in the direction of the axis of the discharge Opening is normally parallel and in mutual abutment. The faces are further constructed to be engaged with and spread apart by a tubular discharge member Which can be inserted from the exterior of the container through the collar to thereby open the passageway.

This invention relates generally to valves for use in the regulation of the discharge of fluid materials and, more particularly, relates to a valve for use in regulating the discharge from a bulk container of fluid materials under a pressure head caused by the material.

Bulk fluid materials such as grease and heavy oil are typically handled in large bulk containers. These containers may range in size from 50 gallon drums to bins having a capacity of as much as 125 cubic feet. Heretofore, it has been a standard practice to supply the bin user with a pump and suction conduit which is lowered into the material through an opening in the top of the container. As thus installed, grease would be pumped up through the top of the container to the desired end use.

There are several disadvantages to these systems, not the least of which is the problem of maintaining different length suction conduits to correspond with each size container or bin in which the grease or oil might be shipped in order that substantially all of the material can be pumped from the container. Moreover, top discharge systems do not utilize the potential for a gravity flow discharge and therefore often require expensive pumping equipment.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a valve for a bulk fluid material container which allows insertion of various size discharge regulating apparatus and conduits for withdrawal of fluid material from the bottommost portion of the container to facilitate complete gravity assisted evacuation thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a valve which allows the insertion of a discharge regulating device into container through an opening which is under pressure without loss of substantial quantities of the materials and which is self-sealing upon removal of the discharge apparatus, again without substantial loss of materials.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a valve which is easy to open for insertion of discharge devices despite substantial pressure heads at the valve, is easy and inexpensive to produce and install, and is more compact and simple in operation than previous valves.

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The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which of the foregoing will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by said drawing and the description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said clawing:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a container for bulk fluid material having installed therein a valve constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view partially in section taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view partially in crosssection of a valve constructed in accordance with the present invention and mounted on a container for bulk fluid material.

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the valve of the present invention taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an end view taken on line 4-4 of FIG- URE 3 with a material discharge conduit inserted in the valve as shown in phantom line in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is an exploded view of the valve of the present invention and including a member for sealing the discharge opening.

The valve of the present invention comprises, briefly, a collar 11 and opposed sheets 12 and 13 adjoined thereto and extending from one side thereof to define a passageway 14, the collar 11 being formed for mounting in sealed relation in a discharge opening with sheets 12 and 13 extending internally of the bulk fluid container, the sheets 12 and 13 being joined at opposite edges 16 and 17 to provide separable opposed faces 18 and 19 nornally biased to sealed engagement closing passageway 14, the faces 18 and 19 being adapted for engagement with and for spreading apart by a material discharge means inserted from the exterior of the container through collar 11 thereby opening passageway 14.

The valve of the present invention, generally designated 21, is particularly well suited for adapting existing grease pump equipment suitable for pumping grease from 50 gallon barrels to much larger grease bins while standing still facilitating removal of substantially all of the bulk material from the bin. As best can be seen in FIG- URES 1 and 2, a valve 21 is mounted in the truncated section 22 of a typical grease bin 23. Bin 23 is provided with a top opening 24 and upstanding legs 26 to which channels 27 and 28 are secured and formed to receive the tines of a forklift. The size of such bins ranges from about 50 to cubic feet in capacity and their construction makes their shipment by rail or truck and handling in various commercial applications quite easy. M S t pump manufacturers, however, and correspondingly, most users of grease and related products have employed grease pumps such as pump 29 in FIGURE 2, which are of a size and construction for use with 50 gallon barrels. Extending from pump 29 is a material discharge conduit or tube 31 of fixed length, the length being suflicient t reach to the bottom of a 50 gallon barrel. Pump 29 and conduit 31 are placed on the top of the barrel and the conduit will reach the bottom to facilitate discharge of most of the contents of the barrel through flexible hose 30. These pumps will not extend downwardly from the opening 24 in the top of bin 23 a sutlicient distance to allow discharge of all of the materials from bin 23.

As an important feature of the present invention, therefore, and in order to utilize the pressure head in existing bins and equipment existing for smaller container for the discharge of grease from large bins, the valve of the present invention is constructed to sealably close under the material pressure head and yet be easil openable by a tubular discharge conduit for gravity or mechanically aided discharge of bulk materials regardless of the length of the discharge conduit employed. Bin 23 is provided with a discharge opening 32 which is positioned in the bin so that materials will cause a pressure head at the opening 32 when the container is in discharge position. It is preferable in order to ensure emptying of substantially all of the contents of the container to position opening 32 at the base of truncated portion 22. As so positioned, the angle of repose of viscous materials, such as heavy grease, approximates the angle of the truncated section when material is removed from the bottom of portion 22, Thus, substantially all of the materials will be removed without the necessity of stirring or other mechanical agitation. Opening 32 is preferably formed by a tubular member or part 33 which is secured to truncated section 22 by welds 34 and 36. Extending inwardly of truncated section 22 is a segment 37 of tubular portion 33 which protects valve 21, as will be more fully described herein below.

Collar 11 is formed for mounting in sealed relation to opening 32 in receiving member 38, which is welded or otherwise secured to tubular member 32 at the outward end thereof and is provided with an annular seat 39 to receive collar 11. Holding collar 11 in sealed relation to seat 39 and member 38 are gaskets 41 and 42 and member or bushing 43 which threadably mates with member 38 to axially urge the gaskets against collar 11.

The operation and advantages of the valve construction of the present invention can best be explained by referring to FIGURES 3, 4 and 5. With valve 21 in place in opening 32 and sealed against seat 39 the hydrostatic forces created by the bulk material at the opening 32 cause sheets 12 and 13, and thus opposing faces 18 and 19, to be forced into engagement with one another thus closing passagewa 14 and sealing opening 32 against discharge of materials therefrom. In order to ensure that valve 21 will function to seal opening 32, sides 16 and 17 are preferably sealed over their length and sheets 12 and 13 formed of a flexible resilient material, such as neoprene rubber, which causes faces 16 and 17 to be normally biased toward en gagement with one another. While this biasing may be achieved by forming valve 21 from two sheets of rubber adhesively secured at edges 16 and 17, it is also possible to mold valve 21 as a single continuous member of various resilient flexible materials with opposing sides or sheets 12 and 13 biased for engagement of surfaces 16 and 17. Sheets 12 and 13 will have in either construction substantial opposed areas which when subjected to hydrostatic force effectively seal off passageway 14.

In order to facilitate the manufacture of valve 21 and to allow the easy insertion of conduit discharge means 31 into bin 23, it is preferable to join collar 11 and sheets 12 and 13 by a conical portion 44 providing tapered surfaces 46 contiguous with faces 18 and 19. This construction makes it relatively easy for conduit 31 to separate or wedge apart faces 18 and 19 despite substantial hydrostatic pressure on sheets 12 and 13, Thus, member 31 is inserted through collar 11 into passageway 14 and engages surfaces 46 to gradually separate faces 18 and 19 to allow the conduit to pass into bin 23 for discharge of the materials. Conduit 31 then may be removed and hydrostatic pressures and biasing of valve 21 cause passageway 14 to be closed and faces 18 and 19 to be again in opposed abutting sealed relationship.

As a further feature of the present invention and in order to minimize the accidental escape of material during the insertion and removal of conduit 31 into valve 21, it is preferable to provide valve 21 with means 57 sealing conduit 31 and collar 11 relative to one another. As best can be seen in FIGURE 5, faces 18 and 19 engage substantially all of the periphery of conduit 31 under the pressure of the hydrostatic forces. However, depending upon the valve material and the amount of hydrostatic pressure at the valve, small openings 52 and 53 at the periphery of conduit 31 between faces 18 and 19 may be present. These openings in passageway 14 will allow the extrusion or flow of grease or other bulk fluid material past conduit 19 and out past collar 11 so as to result in an undesirable discharge from bin 23. Threadably mounted in member 43 and best seen in FIGURE 3, sealing means 51 is comprised of annular member 54 having an internal diameter 56 slightly larger than the external diameter of conduit 31 and an annular gasket 57 having an internal diameter dimensioned for yieldable interference fit with conduit 31. Gasket 57 may be in the form of a standard O-ring. Member 54 is also preferably formed with opening 58 to receive a set screw (not shown) so that conduit 31 may be inserted past annular gasket 57 which seals conduit 31 relative to collar 11 and into valve passageway 14 to spread faces 18 and 19 apart. The set screw then is used to prevent further axial movement of conduit 31 under the influence of the hydrostatic force. Sealing means 51 cooperates with valve 21 in the following manner. As the conduit 31 is inserted into member 54 gasket 57 sealably engages the periphery of conduit 31, As conduit 31 is inserted down to valve 21 materials escaping past conduit 31 through openings 52 and 53 are stopped by gasket 57 and do not leave the discharge opening.

As an additional and important feature of the present invention in order to maximize the sealing force on conduit discharge means 31 and sealing of valve 21 upon removal of the discharge conduit, valve 21 is seated in tubular member or part 33 in seat 39 so that sheets 12 and 13 lie in substantially horizontal planes when bushing 43 secures collar 11 in sealed relation to seat 39. With sheets 12 and 13 lying in a horizontal plane the hydrostatic pressures will cooperate with the biasing of the sheets by sealing along the edges 16 and 17 to maximize the efficiency with which faces 18 and 19 are forced into sealed engagement with each other or conduit 31.

In addition, it is preferable in order to facilitate the easy separation of faces 18 and 19 to mount valve 21 with tapered or conical portion 44 within tubular part 33 and particularly extension 37. As thus mounted, hydrostatic forces on conical portion 44 are minimized, particularly when a heavy grease is employed which does not transfer laterally hydrostatic pressures as effectively as do oils or lighter, more fluid materials. Protecting portion 37, prevents collapse of conical portion 44 and allows the end of conduit 31 to easily wedge apart sheets 12 and 13 to open passageway 14.

As a further advantage of the present invention and in order to allow the easy insertion and removal of conduit 31 and means 51 and greater versatility in the selection of conduit sizes, bushing 43 is provided with latch plate 61 pivotally carried relative to part 33 and formed to engage and rotationally interlock, preferably under the action of gravity, with polygonal-shaped head 63 on member 43. As so constructed, latch plate 61 prevents member 43 from rotating and becoming unscrewed during removal of member 54. Thus, collar 11 will be kept in sealed relation to seat 39 under axial pressure from member 43 during removal of sealing means 51. This allows means 51 to be easily removed and a new means inserted should a conduit 31 of different diameter be used. Member 61 is pivotally mounted by means of bolt 66 and yoke-shaped arms 67 and 68, and latch plate 61 is formed with an inverted V-shaped bottom to correspondingly engage head 63 to prevent rotation of member 43.

To seal for handling and shipping gasket 64 and sealing member 62 are screwed down into sealed relation with member 43. As thus positioned, any accidental discharge or leakage through passageway 14 will be effectively sealed against discharge to the outside of the bin. Gasket 64 can also be used as a seal between members 58 and 43.

The valve of the present invention may be formed in several manners but preferably it has been found that sheets 12 and 13, which extend through taper portion 44 to collar 11, may be formed of neoprene rubber and adhesively secured along edges 16 and 17 at edges 71 and 72 in the tapered portion. Collar 11 then may be adhesively secured to sheets 12 and 13 to form the valve. Suitable rubber adhesives are well known in the art which can be used as can mechanical fasteners and other types of fastening. Gaskets 41 and 42 are respectively neoprene and polyethylene. The polyethylene gasket 42 provides a shim or follower which allows member 43 to be screwed into member 38 without abrading or chewing up gasket 41. Gasket 64 can similarly be formed from neoprene.

I claim:

1. A valve for use in a container for bulk fluid material having a discharge opening formed and positioned therein so that said material causes a pressure head at said opening when said container is in discharge position comprising, a collar and opposed sheets joined thereto and extending from one side thereof to define a passageway, said collar being formed for mounting in sealed relation in said opening with said sheets extending internally of said container, said sheets being joined at opposite edges to provide separable opposed faces biased to sealed engagement by the pressure head to close said passageway, a major length of said faces in the direction of the access of the discharge opening being normally parallel and in mutual abutment, said faces being adapted for engagement with and for spreading apart by a material discharge means inserted from the exterior of said container through said collar thereby opening said passageway.

2. A valve as defined in claim 1, and a material discharge conduit dimensioned for insertion through said collar for engagement with and for spreading apart of said faces for removal of said material, and means sealing said conduit and said collar.

3. A valve as defined in claim 1, and mounting means comprising, a tubular part adapted for connection to said container in sealed relation to said discharge opening therein and formed with an annular seat for said collar, and a bushing threaded into said part securing said collar against said seat and said valve in said part with said sheets lying in substantially horizontal planes.

4. A valve as defined in claim 3, wherein said sheets are joined to said collar in a conical portion providing tapered surfaces contiguous with said faces for wedging apart of said faces by said discharge means, said conical portion being positioned within and surrounded by said tubular part with said sheets extending from said tubular part into said container.

5. A valve as defined in claim 3, and means carried by said bushing formed and dimensioned to provide an annular seal for a tubular material discharge conduit inserted through said collar.

6. A valve as defined in claim 3, wherein said bushing is former with a polygonal-shaped head, and a latch plate pivotally carried by said part and formed to engage and rotationally interlock with said head.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 175,145 3/1876 Painter 137-5251 1,058,990 4/1913 Leighton 15159 2,328,948 9/1943 Bourke 137-5251 X 2,830,611 4/1958 Stelma 137-525.1 X

WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner. DAVID R. MATTHEWS, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 137525.1; 151-59; 222-490; 251-339, 349 

